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  6. article_body => "<p dir=\"ltr\">LAS VEGAS -- Most of us can only imagine what the United States\u2019 women\u2019s soccer team is feeling now after winning the World Cup with a 2-0 win over the Netherlands.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">And then there\u2019s Boston Celtics assistant coach Kara Lawson who was an integral part of the 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning US women\u2019s basketball team.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Being the last team standing on such a global platform is a feeling few can fully comprehend, and even fewer will experience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Count Lawson among the fortunate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s incredible,\u201d Lawson told NBC Sports Boston. \u201cPeople say the phrase \u2018top of the world\u2019 all the time. Most of the time they\u2019re not top of the world. Here\u2019s actually where that phrase applies; it\u2019s an amazing feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul dir=\"ltr\">\n<li>\n<h3><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/revolution\/boston-sports-teams-congratulate-uswnt-world-cup-win?int\" target=\"_blank\">Boston sports teams congratulate USWNT for World Cup win<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Lawson said winning a global championship like the World Cup or an Olympic Gold medal is about more than being the best team during that period of time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s an incredible validation of so many things when you get a chance to be part of a world championship team,\u201d Lawson said. \u201cValidation of your path, your upbringing, who helped you get there. validation of the work and time you put in to do that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Lawson added, \u201cAnd then, it\u2019s really validation of your group because forever, you\u2019re that. It\u2019s validation of that group together. So, that feeling, coming from so many different levels of your life individually, as an athlete, life as a group \u2026 it\u2019s overwhelming. That\u2019s why you see so many people overcome with emotions because it\u2019s all those things crashing at one time.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Lawson, who scored a team-high 15 points in Team USA\u2019s gold medal victory over Australia in the 2008 Olympics, has also won a WNBA title (Sacramento, 2005).<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThey\u2019re different,\u201d Lawson said when asked about being part of both championship teams.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul dir=\"ltr\">\n<li>\n<h3><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/celtics\/scott-morrison-yabusele-was-pressing-bit-due-lack-touches-2019-summer-league-debut?int\" target=\"_blank\">Yabusele \"was pressing a bit\" in summer league opener<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s so difficult to make the Olympic team,\u201d Lawson said. \u201cYou know, it\u2019s difficult to make the WNBA but it\u2019s even harder to make it to that next one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Lawson also pointed out how winning a championship offers a moment to reflect, at least how it relates to women\u2019s basketball, to embrace being part of a legacy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWhen you look at the run that we (Team USA women\u2019s basketball team) are currently on; I can see we because I\u2019m part of that ... we\u2019ve won like six straight Olympics,\" Lawson said. \"To feel that, to be part of that, that\u2019s what was most satisfying to me, to see the people who had done it before, to know that you\u2019re name is with them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">It is a feeling that most of us can only imagine.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">And then there\u2019s the women\u2019s soccer team that\u2019s living in that moment as we speak, following a thrilling run towards a second straight World Cup.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/celtics\/grant-williams-basketball-bully-burying-threes?int\" target=\"_blank\">BLAKELY: Grant Williams impacting the game in new ways&gt;&gt;&gt;<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb76e2c06579?site_id=Dig_RSN_Bos&amp;creative_id=nbcsbos1075&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcsbos1075\">Click here<\/a>&nbsp;to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.<\/em><\/p>\n"
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Celtics

Celtics

LAS VEGAS -- Most of us can only imagine what the United States’ women’s soccer team is feeling now after winning the World Cup with a 2-0 win over the Netherlands. 

And then there’s Boston Celtics assistant coach Kara Lawson who was an integral part of the 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning US women’s basketball team. 

Being the last team standing on such a global platform is a feeling few can fully comprehend, and even fewer will experience. 

Count Lawson among the fortunate. 

“It’s incredible,” Lawson told NBC Sports Boston. “People say the phrase ‘top of the world’ all the time. Most of the time they’re not top of the world. Here’s actually where that phrase applies; it’s an amazing feeling.”

Lawson said winning a global championship like the World Cup or an Olympic Gold medal is about more than being the best team during that period of time. 

“It’s an incredible validation of so many things when you get a chance to be part of a world championship team,” Lawson said. “Validation of your path, your upbringing, who helped you get there. validation of the work and time you put in to do that. 

Lawson added, “And then, it’s really validation of your group because forever, you’re that. It’s validation of that group together. So, that feeling, coming from so many different levels of your life individually, as an athlete, life as a group … it’s overwhelming. That’s why you see so many people overcome with emotions because it’s all those things crashing at one time.” 

Lawson, who scored a team-high 15 points in Team USA’s gold medal victory over Australia in the 2008 Olympics, has also won a WNBA title (Sacramento, 2005).

“They’re different,” Lawson said when asked about being part of both championship teams. 

“It’s so difficult to make the Olympic team,” Lawson said. “You know, it’s difficult to make the WNBA but it’s even harder to make it to that next one.”

Lawson also pointed out how winning a championship offers a moment to reflect, at least how it relates to women’s basketball, to embrace being part of a legacy. 

“When you look at the run that we (Team USA women’s basketball team) are currently on; I can see we because I’m part of that ... we’ve won like six straight Olympics," Lawson said. "To feel that, to be part of that, that’s what was most satisfying to me, to see the people who had done it before, to know that you’re name is with them.”

It is a feeling that most of us can only imagine. 

And then there’s the women’s soccer team that’s living in that moment as we speak, following a thrilling run towards a second straight World Cup. 

BLAKELY: Grant Williams impacting the game in new ways>>>

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.